Chapter Twenty-Three
Three days wentby in a flurry of gossip and speculation. Thanks to the countess’s guidance, all three girls managed to come away with their reputations intact. It did, however, cost them time. No gentleman was willing to show interest in any of them until after the hubbub cooled down. Which meant they went to parties, danced with the few men who offered, and smiled and smiled until Mairi thought her face would crack.
Which is exactly what happened on the fourth morning. Mairi had just approved Sadie’s meal suggestions for the week when the countess slipped into the housekeeper’s room where she’d been working. That the lady was awake this early was a surprise. That she was fully dressed and with a tight expression told Mairi that the discussion to come was going to be difficult.
As usual, she began with a smile. “Countess! What a pleasure to see you this morning.”
“I’m not one to rouse myself unless it’s important, so let the hour be a message to you about the urgency.”
Mairi folded her hands in her lap and gave the lady her complete attention. “What do you wish to discuss?”
“It’s time to make a decision,” the lady said as she dropped down onto the empty chair set next to the fire. “Your time is up. Your money as well. You’ve got an offer, and so it’s time to decide.”
The statements were made with a kind of world weariness that was the exact opposite of the face the countess usually presented to the world. Normally, the lady was all excitement and pleasure when in society, but today her expression was grave. And frankly, that was all Mairi could focus on. She hadn’t the stomach to deal with the lady’s other statements. But of course, she had no choice.
“Well?” the countess pressed. “What do you think?”
Might as well start with the easiest. “As to the money, I still have a copper necklace.”
“Not after today. Madame warned me that the bill would arrive today, and she expects payment immediately. I cannot risk the other girls’ chances upon you. If you were to refuse to pay—”
“Sadie and Iseabail won’t get their gowns. I know. I understand.”
“But you have an offer. That’s good news. What do you think of him?”
Mairi tightened her fingers together. “An offer from whom? I haven’t heard a thing.”
The countess’s brows rose. “Oh. I thought he’d spoken to you. I gave him permission to address you several nights ago.” She took a breath. “It’s Mr. Weissman, the barrister. He’s the second son of a second son, but he travels in the best circles. Has a bright future ahead of him. You’d likely be tasked with managing his mother’s home, but again, she’s goodton. You’d be on the periphery for the most part, but you don’t seem to enjoy the parties. And you’ll have work to occupy yourself until the babies come. An organized wife is an asset to a barrister with aspirations, and you more than fit the bill.”
Damned by faint praise. She was to be an organized wife.
The countess touched her hand. “Are you sure he hasn’t spoken to you?”
“I am sure no one has asked me to marry him.”
“Probably because of this business with Mr. Carr’s murder.” The lady shuddered. “But that should clear up the minute they find Mr. Barrett.”
Apparently, Mr. Barrett had run the minute he’d heard the constable was looking for him. The man could be halfway to Russia by now. “I hope he is caught very soon,” Mairi said, expecting just the opposite.
“I pray for it every night upon my knees.” Then she pursed her lips. “Well, I’ll try to prod Mr. Weissman today. Will you accept him?”
Good question. “Is he the one with the very large nose?”
“What? No, no. That’s Mr. Tanners. And it’s not that his nose is so large. Only that—”
“His face is somewhat small. Yes, I remember him telling me that. Though why he thought that was important is a mystery to me.”
“He’s telling you that his cock is normal-sized,” the lady said with a wave of her hand. “Something about noses and male organs.”
“Oh!” Sometimes the woman’s bluntness was a welcome surprise. Sometimes it was just a surprise. “I suppose that explains his emphasis on the matter.”
“I never put much stock in that myself. I’m told that a small cock can father a child as easily as a large one. But it’s important that you know all the facts before making your choice.”
This conversation was becoming very strange. “Thank you. But he’s not offering for me, is he?”
“No, no. Though he wouldn’t be a bad choice if you preferred him.”
“I do not.”